• Defence Notes

  How artificial intelligence can threaten military readiness

  8th March 2023

  Although AI provides several operational benefits in the defence arena, it can also put armed forces in risky situations.

• Defence Notes

  Ukraine air defences supplied by West force drop in Russian aircraft sorties

  7th December 2022

  Russia has reduced the number of sorties it is flying above Ukraine considerably, which is likely the result of a continued high threat from Ukrainian air defence systems, mostly supplied by allied nations, according to the UK MoD.

• Air Warfare

  Bahrain completes attack helicopter fleet renewal

  22nd February 2023

  Bell has completed the contract for 12 AH-1Z rotorcraft for delivery to Bahrain.

• Air Warfare

  IDEX 2023: Bird Aerosystems lands contract to protect VIP transports

  13th February 2023

  Bird Aerosystems is supplying pod-mounted missile protection and IR countermeasures systems for two types of aircraft for a European customer.

• Land Warfare

  Will British Army Boxer IFVs feature the Patria Nemo mortar system?

  11th January 2023

  While no decision has yet been made, the British Army emerge as the launch customer for the Nemo remote-controlled 120mm mortar system on Boxer vehicles.

• Air Warfare

  Thales and Schiebel give Royal Navy new eye in the sky

  10th February 2023

  The Royal Navy has selected Thales and Schiebel to provide a rotary-wing UAS for its warships under the Peregrine programme.

• Air Warfare

  Patria OPTIME ensures fleet performance in all conditions over the entire lifecycle (Sponsored)

  28th February 2023

  Smarter sustainment and ultimate availability: Patria OPTIME combines robust engineering and maintenance expertise with data analysis in a unique way for the sustainment of various kinds of fleets. It ensures that customer fleets are always ready for operations – with optimal costs.

• Defence Notes

  UK and France target 2030 for future cruise missile, seek commonality on future fighter weapons

  15th March 2023

  The UK and France aim to deliver a new cruise missile in 2030 as part of the MBDA-led Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon (FC/ASW) project.

• Land Warfare

  US Army invests in range and firepower with M109 howitzers

  20th February 2023

  BAE Systems will provide hardware kits and support for its M109A7 self-propelled howitzers and M992A3 ammunition carriers to the US Army.

• Naval Warfare

  NAVDEX 2023: UAE buys Indonesian support ship in $400 million deal

  22nd February 2023

  Discussions for a UAE purchase of the ship from PT Pal first commenced in 2020.

• Training

  Exercise Red Flag to focus on young operators

  27th January 2023

  This year's Red Flag exercises will see Australia, the UK and the US focus on the Indo-Pacific theatre and interoperability, as well as prioritising young aviators.

• Air Warfare

  Indian Army fast-tracks new UAVs and C-UAS jammers

  14th February 2023

  India is quickly pushing UAVs into the hands of troops, with several new tenders issued, as well as other systems to jam enemy unmanned systems.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  iMUGS demonstrates integration of robotic ground systems

  20th December 2022

  The iMUGS project, worth €32.5 million, will develop a modular and scalable architecture for hybrid crewed-uncrewed systems.

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  IDEX 2023: KAI showcases developmental tiltrotor UAV

  23rd February 2023

  Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is showcasing two developmental uncrewed platforms at IDEX 2023, the Night Intruder 500 Vectored Thurst (NI-500VT) and Air Launched Effect (ALE).

• Naval Warfare

  Kraken adds mini-torpedo capability to K50 fast boat

  20th February 2023

  Kraken has signed a partnership agreement with Leonardo with the first project involving integration of the Black Scorpion torpedo onto the K50 platform.

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Transport/tanker aircraft

  OC-135B Replacement [USA]

  Programme Background The modification and Treaty Certification works include Digital Visual Imaging System kits, design and development for mission system integration (structural design, interphone communications systems, ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  Light Combat Helicopter (India - Air Force)

  Programme Background Requirement India's requirement for light attack helicopters capable of operating at high altitudes became apparent during the 1999 Kargil War. Originally planned to reach ...

• Military helicopters - scout/light attack

  Light Combat Helicopter (India - Army)

  Programme Background Requirement India's requirement for light attack helicopters capable of operating at high altitudes became apparent during the 1999 Kargil War. Originally planned to reach ...

• Military UAS - tactical

  Orlan-10 [Russian Navy]

  Background Frigate Augmentation Before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the country planned to augment its Admiral Gorshkov class frigates with indigenously developed Orlan-10 ...

• Loitering munitions

  Loitering Munition [Switzerland]

  Background Announcement In a February 2023 interview with Swiss news outlet CH-Media, Swiss army chief Thomas Süssli stated that the country was considering acquiring loitering munitions ...

• Hybrid effector systems

  Lightweight Marine Air Defence Integrated System [US]

  Background The US Marine Corps' (USMC) Lightweight Marine Air Defence Integrated System (L-MADIS) supports deployed Marine Expeditionary Units with non-kinetic C-UAS capabilities and a shoulder-fired surface-to-air weapon for ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Shahed-171 (ANSU-200) [Venezuela]

  Background Independence Day Parade Venezuela operates the ANSU-200, a UAV with many visual similarities to the Shahed-171, which Defence Insight believes is a domestically produced ...

• Long Range Missile Defence Systems: > 90km range

  S-400 [India]

  Background India is modernising its air defence by procuring  S-400 LRSAM systems (Triumf Missile System), which are planned to be used by the Air Force.  The fifth system ...

• Destroyers

  Canadian Surface Combatant/River Class (1-3) [Canada]

  Background Requirements Fifteen frigates are being procured to replace the Royal Canadian Navy's 12 ageing Halifax-class frigates and the now-retired Iroquois-class destroyers with next-generation surface ...

• Land: air defence radar

  Ground Master 403 Radar [Egypt]

  Background In 2020, Egypt ordered four of France-based Thales Ground Master 403 radars, the mobile member of their GM400 radar family.  At least one of the ...

• Air: Radio and SATCOM

  Air: Radio and SATCOM | Pegasus SIGINT Aircraft (Follow-On) [Germany]

  In 2021, Germany awarded a contract to Hensoldt for the Kalaetron integrated SIGINT system to be installed on three Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft, forming the Persistent ...

• Data links

  Data links | Pegasus SIGINT Aircraft (Follow-On) [Germany]

  In 2021, Germany awarded a contract to Hensoldt for the Kalaetron integrated SIGINT system to be installed on three Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft, forming the Persistent ...

• Air: Head-up displays

  Air: Head-up displays | Pegasus SIGINT Aircraft (Follow-On) [Germany]

  In 2021, Germany awarded a contract to Hensoldt for the Kalaetron integrated SIGINT system to be installed on three Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft, forming the Persistent ...

• Transponders and IFF

  Transponders and IFF | Pegasus SIGINT Aircraft (Follow-On) [Germany]

  In 2021, Germany awarded a contract to Hensoldt for the Kalaetron integrated SIGINT system to be installed on three Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft, forming the Persistent ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Mangart 25 [Slovenia]

  Background Mangart 25 originated from a Slovenian national development project for a lightweight remotely controlled air-defence system. The development contract was signed with Valhalla Turrets ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: aerial targets

  Lakshya

  The Lakshya is an aerial target developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for training fighter pilots in air-to-air combat or ground-based air ...

• Land: Radio and SATCOM

  StreamCaster Mini 4210

  The StreamCaster Mini 4210 (SM4210) is a single-channel data radio (SCDR) that can create MANET mesh networks. It is currently in use with the US ...

• Air: mission management systems

  FireStorm

  FireStorm is an integrated targeting and mission management system for air-to-ground operations such as close air support, ground targeting and call for fire. It is ...

• Military helicopters - attack

  AW129

  The AW129 Mangusta (Mongoose, service designation) is a tandem two-seat, twin-engine attack helicopter originally developed for the Italian Army and subsequently developed into a multirole combat ...

• Air: mission management systems

  CMA-9000

  The CMA-9000  Flight and Radio Management System (FMS/RMS) is manufactured by the Canadian firm CMC Electronics. It is designed for a wide range of commercial, ...

• Air: aerial targets

  Chukar III

  The Chukar III, based on Northrop Grumman’s BQM-74E developed for the USN, is a high subsonic aerial jet target for export customers.

• Sea: weapon training, Military - USVs

  Sprite

  The Sprite is a USV developed by QinetiQ and designed for live-fire training exercises. 

• Air: aerial targets

  Banshee Whirlwind

  Originally made by Meggitt Target Systems, a company QinetiQ acquired in 2016, the Banshee is an aerial target and the first drone in the Banshee series.  ...

• Land: range systems and targets

  Badger UGV-T

  Badger is a remotely controlled, lightly armoured, all-terrain vehicle designed to exercise anti-armour combat systems. No permanent installations are required; Badger is transportable to and ...

• Sea: weapon training, Military - USVs

  Albatros-T

  The Aselsan Albatros-T is a high-speed, unmanned, surface-target boat manufactured by Aselsan. It is designed to be used as a moving target in shooting drills.

• Air: Integrated cockpit systems

  Integrated Avionics Suite

  Northrup Grumman's Integrated Avionics Suite is an open architecture mission equipment package, which can be deployed on a number of rotorcraft platforms. It consists of ...

• Air: aerial targets

  DO-SK6

  The DO-SK6 is a modular design tow body adaptable for various functions.

• Naval: RF/IR/acoustic decoys

  Integrated Decoy System

  Rafael's integrated ship-defence decoy system features real-time decoy deployment, fixed and/or rotating launchers and a computerised decoy controller that can be integrated with a ship’s ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Integrated Combat System

  The Integrated Combat System (ICS) is a combat management system being developed for the US Navy. The project, currently led by Lockheed Martin, aims to ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  Kuwait Air Force F/A-18 TOFT

  L3Harris Technologies has delivered two F/A-18C Tactical Operational Flight Trainers (TOFTs) built for the Kuwait Air Force (KAF). The high-fidelity TOFTs replace the KAF’s F/A-18 ...